Massachusetts Loan Repayment Program (MLRP) for Health Professionals

*The following is a brief description for students. Institutions should refer to the most recent guidelines for information.

Massachusetts offers loan repayment programs for primary health care professionals in a variety of disciplines including dental, medical, and mental health professionals. The goal of these programs is to provide educational loan repayments as an incentive for health professionals to practice in communities where significant shortages of health care providers and barriers to access have been identified.   

Applicants must be licensed to practice in Massachusetts and commit to practice two years full-time or the equivalent extended commitment part time (e.g. a 20-hour practice per week will mean a 4-year contract) providing services in an eligible facility or setting.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for loan repayments through MLRP, a person must:

• Have unpaid health professional student loans
• Work in an underserved community
• To determine if an area (county, group of census tracts or facility) is a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area, click here.   
• Massachusetts also has identified state specific shortage areas. To see a list, click here.
• Have a license to practice in one of the following disciplines:
• PrimaryCare Physician (MD or DO)
• Dentist
• Dental Hygienist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Advance Practice Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse Specialist
• Certified Nurse-Midwife
• Physician Assistant
• Clinical or Counseling Psychologist
• Clinical Social Workers
• Mental Health Counselor
• Professional Counselor (including behavioral and substance abuse disorder)
• Marriage and Family Therapist

*Recipients cannot have a current commitment to any other state or federal loan repayment program.

Award Amounts

Health Professionals are eligible for up to $50,000 for a two-year contract. Award amounts vary by discipline. Awards are never larger than the outstanding loan balance.

MLRP award recipients cannot be concurrently taking part in any other government loan repayment plan or be member of the National Health Service Corps.

How to Apply

The MLRP application and instructions can be found online here.

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